The UK government is going to debate closing all shops on boxing day after a petition reached 100,000 signatures

Parliament must debate closing all shops on boxing day after a petition on the government's website reached over 100,000 signatures. 

The petition calls for all retailers to remain closed the day after Christmas and was started by a man called Jack Johnson after 200,000 people signed a similar one on Change.org

On the petition page, Johnson said: "Christmas is a family time, the one day is not enough time to see two sides of families, retail workers work extremely hard during the Christmas run up and only get the one day."

"If only everywhere could be closed boxing day! Some things are needed over the festive period, retail isn't one of them."

Under British trading laws, shops measuring 280 square metres or more must close on Christmas Day, but no such rule exists for Boxing Day. 

Signatories of the Change.org petition blamed greed, with one supporter writing: "Retailers stop being so greedy and give families the time they deserve together during the festive season."

Retailers have become increasingly receptive to the idea of trading the day after Christmas and use it as an opportunity to kick off the sales period.

Last year, Fenwicks on Bond Street opened on Boxing Day for the first time in its 124-year history, and other shops opened as early as 6 a.m. 

According to The Guardian, Selfridges on London's Oxford Street took in £2 million in one hour - its most successful hour of trading ever. 

"Whilst not everyone may see Christmas as a religious holiday, it should be respected as such," says the original petition, "and retail workers (who work so hard on the run up to the big day) given some decent family time to relax and enjoy the festivities like everyone else."